Wallabies set to show faith in line-up after 38-12 defeat to Springboks

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie is offering no excuses for his outmuscled side's stunning 38-12 capitulation against South Africa at Lang Park on Saturday night.

The hosts sorely missed skipper James Horwill, a late withdrawal due to hamstring strain, as well as four more of their most physical forwards as the Springboks dominated the collisions, breakdown and scrum.

The Wallabies back-five forwards shared an average of just 12 caps and their international inexperience was exposed by the bigger Springboks in the four-try drubbing.

It's easy to lament who's not here but in the end we've got the players who have earned their spots and they are desperate to go out there and play.

Ewen McKenzie

They had to do without senior enforcers Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock and Wycliff Palu while tall timbers Hugh McMeniman and Peter Kimlin are also sidelined.

Lock Sitaleki Timani will come into the reckoning to play Argentina in Perth next Saturday but McKenzie dismissed concerns about the lack of experienced campaigners.

"I'm not going to sit here and lament who we don't have," he said.

"It's easy to lament who's not here but in the end we've got the players who have earned their spots and they are desperate to go out there and play.

"They have to make the most of their opportunities, and it's their time to shine, so if we're not getting the outcome then we'll go back and have a look."

Springboks dominate breakdown battle

The Springboks turned the tables at the breakdown, the area the Wallabies have traditionally dominated in Mandela Plate clashes on home soil.

But McKenzie shielded his back row of Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy and Ben Mowen from blame.

He says there was not a good enough effort right across his team at the crucial tackle area, where Springboks flanker Francois Louw was a stand-out.

"We're fielding some of our most competitive back-rowers, that's what they've been doing all year," McKenzie said.

"I'll be looking at the whole team in terms of the breakdown contribution."

The Wallabies, who had never lost to the Springboks in seven previous matches at Lang Park, were also hit by the 11th-hour withdrawal of reserve backrower Jake Schatz with a knee injury.